Jeremy Hunt has branded the NHS's sepsis care "totally inadequate" in a grovelling apology for William Mead's death.

The Health Secretary told MPs his department let down the one-year-old through "serious failings" in the "worst possible way".

An NHS report revealed how a call handler missed signs William had the deadly condition, which sends the immune system into overdrive, because his mum used a 111 helpline that focused on ticking boxes.

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He added he had met William's mum 29-year-old mum Melissa and listened to her speak "movingly" about the death of her son in December 2014 in Penryn, Cornwall.

Moving: William's mum Melissa is speaking out about the death of her son (Image: PA)

Mr Hunt told MPs: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of William Mead. I have met William’s mother, Melissa, who has spoken incredibly movingly about the loss of her son.

"Quite simply we let her, her family and William down in the worst possible way through serious failings in the NHS care offered.

"I'd like to apologise to them on behalf of the government and the NHS for what happened.

"I'd also like to thank them for their support and co-operation for the investigation which has now been completed."

Mr Hunt outlined four missed opportunities in the NHS report to spot the seriousness of William's chest infection.

He added: "Although the report concluded that these did not constitute direct serious failings by the individuals involved, had different action been taken at these points William would probably have survived."

Shock: William Mead could have been saved if a 111 call handler spotted the signs (Image: PA)

He said changes to the 111 helpline would be a "national not a local issue" and the case had "significant implications for the rest of the NHS".

Although call advisors "are trained not to deviate from their script", Mr Hunt said the government and NHS would take up recommendations in the report to help them spot serious conditions.

He added: "Most of all we must recognise that our understanding of sepsis across the NHS is totally inadequate.

"This condition claims around 35,000 lives every year including around a thousand children."

He claimed 111 had been a "victim of its own success" because it takes 12 million calls a year, three times more than the NHS Direct system it replaced three years ago.